COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE: REGIONAL MARKET -- Connecticut; New Use for an Old Theater As Darien Tries to Revitalize

By ELEANOR CHARLES

Published: August 18, 2004

DARIEN, Conn.—
A full-service Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa and an Ann Taylor Loft have leased space in the Darien Playhouse movie theater, a prime spot in the small downtown here. Around the corner, a complex with shops, apartments and a restaurant is under construction.

The two developments, which back up to each other, are perceived by Darien as the nucleus for the redevelopment of its downtown, providing the first new apartments and major businesses in decades. Established in the horse-and-buggy era, downtown Darien is situated on a heavily traveled half-mile of the Boston Post Road (Route 1) between Leroy and Sedgwick Avenues, and is lined with some 23 shops, 11 restaurants and a smattering of offices in one- and two-story buildings.

The Elizabeth Arden and Ann Taylor companies are seeking to expand in Fairfield County and elsewhere in the New York metropolitan area. The Red Door nearest to Darien is in the Westchester, a mall in White Plains, and Ann Taylor's closest Loft store is in the town of Fairfield, about 25 miles east.

Arthur Collins Sr., a developer of upscale office and housing complexes along the Eastern Seaboard, and Thomas E. Golden, president of the Thomas E. Golden Realty Company in Darien, are redeveloping the 21,500-square-foot theater building, built in 1926. Closed for seven years in the 1980's, it was purchased by United Artists and reopened as a two-screen theater, but closed again before the two men took it over. Mr. Collins said, ''We had to find a way to save it for the town, but movie rents are barely a break-even, so we had to get other income.''

Three years ago, they formed Pear Tree Partners and bought the theater, at 1077 Boston Post Road. Town officials see the project as the first step of a revitalization.

''We need clothing stores, sports equipment, more restaurants and diverse businesses,'' said Evonne Klein, the first selectwoman. ''We could use a new ice cream shop and stores to be open in the evenings. We don't have a bar where a band can play, and we're tired of traveling to Stamford and Greenwich.''

While Mr. Collins and Mr. Golden have completely gutted the interior, they saved the red-brick colonial facade in compliance with the town's wish. ''We are a charming New England town, and we don't want to lose that character,'' Ms. Klein said.

By halving the two theaters' capacity, to 160 seats each, and adding 1,500 square feet to each side of the building, the developers made room for three new tenants. The third is a high-end linen shop, Sweet Dreams, which took 1,500 square feet on the ground floor facing the street.

The white-pillared theater entrance and lobby will be taken over by Ann Taylor, with a store that covers 6,500 square feet; moviegoers will now enter the theater at the back of the building. The marquee will remain, bearing the name Playhouse Square. The two stores and the theater are expected to open around Thanksgiving, Mr. Collins said.

The spa, which will offer facials, massages, manicures, pedicures and makeup in a colonial setting, is not expected to open until next summer. Arden will do the interior work on its space, which covers 7,500 square feet; the developers enlarged the second floor to accommodate the spa by taking out the theater's mezzanine. They are also installing a protruding glass-walled entrance on the left side of the building with a private elevator, a stairway and a signature red door for the spa.

Patricia Ardigo of CB Richard Ellis, who negotiated the move of Arden's headquarters from Phoenix to Stamford last year, said: ''They wanted a spa, but they didn't want it in Stamford. Darien's demographics and this unique space were perfect for them.''

Peter Vivien, a restorer, owner and operator of vintage theaters in New Jersey, will operate the theater on a 30-year lease. His plans for the interior include a swagged Austrian show curtain and pastel upholstery.

Pear Tree Partners will have an additional four stores to rent when it razes a frame house that it bought next door to the theater. A new brick retail building resembling the theater will go up there, with 5,000 square feet on the ground floor and 3,000 on the second floor. The combined cost of the two Pear Tree buildings, Mr. Collins estimated, is $8 million, including property acquisition.

Around the corner from the theater, the two-building complex of shops, apartments and a restaurant is being developed at 20 Grove Street by Penelope M. Glassmeyer, a builder of luxury homes. Do H. Chung, the principal of Do H. Chung & Partners of Stamford, is the architect for the project -- which will cost $8 million and is called Grove Street Plaza -- as well as for Playhouse Square.

The larger of the two Grove Street buildings, separated from the smaller one by a broad plaza with a central fountain, will hold the Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant, which will take the entire 4,000-square-foot ground floor. Four one-bedroom apartments and four two-bedroom apartments are being installed on the second floor.

A children's clothing store called Birdies in the Nest has taken 850 square feet on the ground floor of the smaller building, and a tenant is being sought for the remaining 1,000 square feet. The second floor will have two one-bedroom apartments.

Scott Lifschultz of GVA Williams, who is handling leasing for Pear Tree, said: ''People with Darien incomes who commute to Manhattan don't want to go to Westport to shop. They will be able to stay in Darien. A lot of these buildings will be redeveloped and transformed into more high-end retail.''